July 20th 2024.
Manchester United, one of the biggest football clubs in the world, has been making moves in the transfer market. Recently, the club has been in talks to potentially sign Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich. Erik ten Hag, the former manager of Ajax, has confirmed that he supports this push to bring the talented defender to Old Trafford.
Even though United has just completed a deal for 18-year-old centre-back Leny Yoro, they are open to adding another central defender to their roster before the transfer window closes. However, their attempts to sign Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton have been unsuccessful so far, with two bids being rejected.
In addition to talks with Bayern Munich, United has also reportedly been in contact with De Ligt himself. The Netherlands international, who recently competed in Euro 2024, is currently enjoying some time off before making any decisions about his future. Bayern is said to be asking for a hefty fee of €50m for the defender.
Ten Hag, who managed De Ligt for over a year at Ajax, admits that he has been interested in signing him before. In fact, he tried to bring him to United in his first summer at the club, but De Ligt ultimately chose to join Bayern in a €77m deal from Juventus.
The decision-making process for transfers at United involves the scouting and recruitment department, with input from the manager. Ten Hag, who was on holiday at the time, supported the choices that were made. He also emphasized that the most important factor is whether the player is a good fit for the team, regardless of their nationality.
Despite external criticism and pressure, Ten Hag believes that United is making the right decisions and moving in the right direction. He firmly stands by the choices they make together as a team, based on the criteria of talent, character, and age. With this approach, he is confident that United will continue to thrive and succeed.
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